Article contentThe latest figures from Quebec’s Institute of Statistics (ISQ) illustrate the point. In 2025, Quebec’s population declined slightly — the first decrease in more than half a century. As of Jan. 1, 2026, the province’s population stood at approximately 9.03 million, down by about 9,600 people. The decline was driven primarily by a reduction in non-permanent residents, including temporary foreign workers, international students and asylum seekers. Looking ahead, the ISQ projects that the province’s population will eventually stabilize at roughly 9.2 million, although demographic trajectories will differ considerably from one region to another.